THE NEXT BIG THING

THE CONFESS PROJECT

By Lorenzo Lewis, MBA

TheConfess Project is America’s first mental health barbershop movement committed to building a culture of mental health for boys, men of color, and their families through capacity building, advocacy, organizing, and movement building. The Confess Project believes in a world without barriers to stigma and shame.

Why barbershops? I created this movement in the barbershop because they are more than a place to go get a quick haircut or beard trim; they are sacred spaces. Barbershops have served as a safe space for men of color throughout history. Martin Luther King, Jr. came up with his best ideas in the sacred space of a barbershop.

According to the CDC, suicide is the third lead causing death for Black men and boys under the age of 20. The reality is: when a man walks into the shop; he is carrying a heavy load. He is carrying trauma, anger, and pain from his past or even present circumstances. He is carrying the responsibility of being a father or significant other. There are a lot of things left unsaid that become revealed as he gets to know his barber. The Confess Project gives this space a purpose: one of healing and restoration.

I know this because I have been that man. I was born into a life filled with trauma. I was born to an incarcerated mother. Growing up, I had a great relationship with my barber and my aunt even owned a salon. At 17, I faced incarceration, but the judge gave me a chance. It was not far after I knew things needed to change.

From that point, I realized that the poor choices I made were from pain hiding beneath the surface. I made the choice to talk about it. I started mental health therapy and even found a mentor to look up to. I reached out for help. Imagine if every man of color made the choice to talk about what lies underneath the surface and pursue healing… the world would change.